WALES INTERNATIONAL: GAMES, SQUADS, TOURNAMENTS, CHAT - SUMMER TOUR & SEASON 2022/23

First topic message reminder :

Here it is:

Springbok team to face Wales in Cape Town:
15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – 19 caps 18pts, 50pts (10t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 27 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 59 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 26 caps, 100 pts (20t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 61 caps, 613 pts (6t, 83c, 131p, 4d)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 3 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 12 caps, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 59 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 64 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 99 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 47 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 49 caps, 50 pts (10t)
1 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 55 caps, 5pts (1t)

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 48 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 60 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 33 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 20 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0pts
22 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 37caps, 25pts (5t)
23 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 73 caps, 60 pts (12t)

RiscaGame wrote:Crikey. He was way off haha.

Im not sure North is fit, wouldn't surprise me to see him drop out...

Tough start for Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiio. Hope he goes well and gets the chance to shine. The two wingers could be electric with the right ball.

Oakdene wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:Crikey. He was way off haha.

Im not sure North is fit, wouldn't surprise me to see him drop out...

Haha. He had Elias, Adams and Jac Morgan too though. Normally only one out at worst and that's often a late change.

I mean, I'm feeling a bit more confident than I was earlier. If that is the back line that actually starts, we may have a chance.

We've put out a good team considering.

About as strong as we could put out, Christ on the bench to add more carrying ability should we need it, but that NZ pack is the least dynamic I think I’ve seen.

Dyer on the wing is probably the best place to have a new cap, I hope he gets a chance to show his attacking strengths. I’m not sure about Anscombe starting having had so little rugby, I’d possibly have switched him and Priestland.

Oakdene wrote:Wales team: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Owen Watkin.

Not bad, I would have preferred to see Watkin at center instead of Tompkins, but hey ho.

I cant wait to see if Rio Dyer steps up, an absolute massive talent.

I haven’t seen a huge amount of Dragons live, before his injury I always thought Hewitt was a class act. How does after compare?

chris_501 wrote:I haven’t seen a huge amount of Dragons live, before his injury I always thought Hewitt was a class act. How does after compare?

Rio Dyer is just electric.

I agree about Hewitt, he was always good to watch, and for me he was one as well who I would hope rise to the expectations, but injury has hampered him a bit although with Hewitt it was always hope than expectation, with Dyer for me, you can see he is going to be a big hit.

The Dragons fans on here will have more knowledge on the pair and I am not saying Hewitt will not be a star either. Luckily for Wales and Dragons, there are two very good young prospects on the wing.

LordDowlais wrote:

Oakdene wrote:Wales team: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Owen Watkin.

Not bad, I would have preferred to see Watkin at center instead of Tompkins, but hey ho.

I cant wait to see if Rio Dyer steps up, an absolute massive talent.

Watkin is rubbish. As is Elias, Hardy and Priestland. If those 3 get on the pitch we'll probably lose.

A few players haven't had much game time; Halfpenny, Anscombe, Thomas, Owens, Tipuric... Usually our guys step up for Wales anyway. I'm not concerned, perhaps just a little concerned about Halfpenny. I would've put Adams at full-back but I'm assuming he's injured.

I wasn't sure if Rio would get the nod, but it is well deserved and I'm pleased for him and his family who are overjoyed.

There's a chance Hewitt has missed the boat, it's difficult to come back after that type of injury. There is still hope, but really he should have been given an opportunity years ago. Giles is another one who could step up if other areas of his game improve, Dyer is similar to him but bigger and slightly better.

mikey_dragon wrote:Watkin is rubbish.

I don't agree. I think he is a decent center, he is just playing for a very poor Ospreys side. He is bigger than Tompkins and these All Blacks are massive, we need his defence more than anything.

Well North is massive’er. Tompkins is mostly excellent for Saracens so it’s difficult to leave him out.

The trouble with Watkin is he can’t really distribute, whereas Tompkins can. We have two less defensive centres, but potential in attack is better.

RiscaGame wrote:The trouble with Watkin is he can’t really distribute, whereas Tompkins can. We have two less defensive centres, but potential in attack is better.

Yeah, I can go with that. But the trouble is, will we have as many opportunities in attack compared to defense ? Will the pro's out way the cons ?

Halfpenny didn't take part in the captains run today - he left the pitch & went down the tunnel before it started.

If Priestland starts at 15 we're feiced.

Is this going to be a standard Welsh international campaign where they franchises are generally terrible at the moment and players are so delighted to be back in the national team set up that most players have a stormer and you'll knock over at least one heavyweight opponent?

I've come to expect this from Wales so I'll be disappointed if that's not the case.

Predictions for the Autumn international predictor game have been extended until 1pm today. Good luck!

https://www.606v2.com/t70868-autumn-internationals-predictor

Halfpenny out. Anscombe to 15 and Priestland to 10. Costellow on the bench.

Good that amazon have a Welsh language version as well by the looks. Anyone elses feed missing score time etc?

Great start by NZ.

Dreadful from Wales so far. Penalties, knock ons, missed tackles. It can’t get any worse.

Going to be a long afternoon from the looks of it for Wales.

Scrum under a tonne of pressure.

Savea. Wow wee.

Think Wales have managed to not stop a man with a pass a grand total of about three times. North actually gets over the gain line when he can be hit with a decent pass.

Lovely move from the lineout. Needed that.

Basically identical to North’s debut try vs SA in 2010 (?).

You have a better memory than me!

Tompkins playing very well so far.

You gotta love how calm Falateu is in the middle of that Donnybrook

Warburton in contrast to Barclay in the previous game is such a good analyst.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Warburton in contrast to Barclay in the previous game is such a good analyst.

You can tell he's worked as a coach at a good level because he's got that analytical eye for detail.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Warburton in contrast to Barclay in the previous game is such a good analyst.

You can tell he's worked as a coach at a good level because he's got that analytical eye for detail.

And brings that communication that pleased refs so much!

Wales really allowing the AB's quick ball. They need to slow them down, legally of course

eirebilly_01 wrote:Wales really allowing the AB's quick ball. They need to slow them down, legally of course

My Welsh eyes say Wayne is definitely giving NZ the benefit of the doubt there. Faletau done fairly there but NZ have flown over the top several times!

JDizzle wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Wales really allowing the AB's quick ball. They need to slow them down, legally of course

My Welsh eyes say Wayne is definitely giving NZ the benefit of the doubt there. Faletau done fairly there but NZ have flown over the top several times!

Not so sure about that. Anscombe is a waste at 15 for me.

NZ aren’t great, but Wales have no chance unless they can work out how to slow them down. Just win a collision at some point.

JDizzle wrote:Basically identical to North’s debut try vs SA in 2010 (?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX4tFODdruk&feature=share&utm_source=EKLEiJECCKjOmKnC5IiRIQ

Time is a flat circle.

Speed of play is world’s apart. We are back in the old habits of standing start running. Buzzing for Rio though.

Embarrassing 47 minutes of defence.

Has he knocked that on.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Has he knocked that on.

His reaction says yes.

Tight.

Think it's a try

How the heck was that a try?!

Try for me. Terrible defense for Smiths try though.

Zero control of the ball and only his body kept the ball connected to him before going over. Very strange one

bsando wrote:How the heck was that a try?!

No separation between hands and ball. That said question helps Wales as it was on field try too.